Superbowl 11 Review: Summary, Statistics, and More
Minnesota Vikings (13-3-1) vs. Oakland Raiders (16-1) January 9, 1977
Pasadena, California, Rose Bowl (103,438) TV: NBC
By Wilson of Predictem.com
Point Spread: Minnesota Vikings +4/Oakland Raiders -4
Over/Under: 32
Pre-Game Report:
The Raiders were destined to make a push this season especially after losing to the Steelers in the previous years AFC Championship game as well as three consecutive AFC Championships. Head coach John Madden was finally thrilled to take his team to Pasadena for a chance to win superbowl eleven.
Behind the leadership of Pro Bowl defensive talent Art Shell, the Raiders made their case by winning 13 of 14 games in route to the big game. Oakland had a handful of playmakers including qaurterback Ken Stabler, TE Dave Casper, OL Gene Upshaw, LB Dave Hendricks, and DB Willie Brown.
Minnesota entered this superbowl with anticipation of their first superbowl win. The Vikings were making their third superbowl appearance in four years but they had never won the big game. Minnesota was led by the eight time Pro Bowler QB Fran Tarkenton.
The Vikings were also in good company with guys like Bobby Bryant, Chuck Foreman, Alan Page, Jeff Siemon, Ed White, Sammy White, and Ron Yary. This squad definitely felt the pressure to get a first Super Bowl win for the franchise.
Game Summary:
This superbowl got off to a dull start as both teams spent most of the first quarter feeling each other out and trying to establish their game plans.
Oakland scored three consecutive times to open the second quarter and take a 16-0 lead. Tight end Dave Casper and Pete Banaszak each scored touchdowns while place kicker Errol Mann added a field goal to give the Raiders the lead heading into halftime.
Mann connected on another field goal in the third quarter to put Oakland up 19-0. But then Fran Tarkenton completed a 8-yard touchdown pass to Sammy White which ended a 12-play 58 yard effort. The Vikings would not get any closer as the Raiders scored two more times on Banaszaks second TD of the game and a Willie Brown interception that he returned 75 yards for the score. The Vikings added a late touchdown but it was a mute point. Oakland secured the win and their first Super Bowl Championship.
Final Score: Oakland 32, Minnesota 14
Super Bowl XI MVP: Fred Biletnikoff (3 receptions that set up touchdowns)
Head Coaches: Oakland, John Madden and Minnesota, Bud Grant
National Anthem: Vikki Carr (America the Beautiful)
Halftime Show: Its a Small World by Walt Disney Productions
Cost of a 30-second Commercial: $125,000.00
Super Bowl 11 Attendance: 103,284
Behind the scenes story:
This was the first superbowl that ended under daylight. This was also the last superbowl where both teams place kickers used the straight-on style. The game was played on January 9th which is the earliest a superbowl had ever been scheduled. To avoid playoff games on Christmas Day the league decided to move the season up by one week. The conference championships ended up being played on December 26 as Christmas fell on a Saturday in 1976.
This was also Don Merediths last broadcast with NBC as he went back to ABC to work the Monday Night Football crew for the 1977 season.
John Madden had an incredible record in his eight seasons as he was 83-22-7 but this was the first time the Raiders made it all the way. Oakland lost all six of their previous playoff appearances includng five times in the AFC Championship game.
Major rule changes that were introduced during the 1976 season included the face mask penalty, also, two 30-second clocks were made visible for both players and fans to indicate the official time between snaps, and the Ben Davidson Rule went into action, which states that players are not allowed to hit or dive or throw their body into a ball carrier who slips or falls to the ground untouched and does not continue to advance. Ben Davidson was the Raider defender who put a hit on the Chiefs QB Len Dawson after Dawson fell to the ground and showed no sign of advancing. This rule certainly has saved a lot of players from getting injured from a defensless position.
Check out video of the famous vicious hit that Jack Tatum put on Vikings WR S. White:
